Therapeutic device

ABSTRACT

A THERAPEUTIC DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A PORTION OF THE HUMAN BODY WHEN DISPOSED IN A RECLINING OR SEMI-RECLINING POSITION INCLUDING A GENERALLY WEDGE-SHAPED BODY. THE BODY INCLUDES AN UPPER SURFACE WHICH EXTENDS ANGULARLY BETWEEN SUPPORT SURFACES WHICH ARE DISPOSED IN GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER. THE ANGULAR DISPOSITION OF THE UPPER SURFACE IS GREATER WITH RESPECT TO ONE SUPPORT SURFACE THAN WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER SUPPORT SURFACE ENABLING THE HUMAN BODY TO BE DISPOSED IN A SEMI-RECLINING OR GENERALLY RECLINING POSITION, RESPECTIVELY AND ADAPTED TO POSITION AND SUPPORT THE RESPECTIVE PARTS OF THE BODY IN PREDETERMINED RELATIVE POSITION, PROVIDING MAXIMUM COMFORT AND IMPROVED POSTURE.

Jan. 19, 1971 w. s. RADFORD THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed Sept. 26. 1968 4INVEN'I'OR.

WARREN S. RAD FORD i mj @3/ m z ATTORNEYS United States Patent O3,555,582 THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Warren S. Radford, 12306 Miles Ave.,Cleveland, Ohio 44105 Filed Sept. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 762,677 Int. Cl.A61g 7/06 US. Cl. -338 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A therapeutic devicefor supporting a portion of the human body when disposed in a recliningor semi-reclining position including a generally wedge-shaped body. Thebody includes an upper surface which extends angularly between supportsurfaces which are disposed in generally perpendicular relation to oneanother. The angular disposition of the upper surface is greater withrespect to one support surface than with respect to the other supportsurface enabling the human body to be disposed in a semi-reclining orgenerally reclining position, respectively and adapted to position andsupport the'respective parts of the body in predetermined relativeposition, providing maximum comfort and improved posture. C

Claims BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to atherapeutic support device, and more particularly to pillow-like devicesadapted for supporting and positioning the neck, head and back of ahuman body.

Recently, there has been a notable increase in the number of physicalailments associated with the back and related portions of the humanbody. To a great extent, these ailments are a result of improperpositioning of the relative portions of the body, that is, the head,neck and back when disposed in a reclining position, such as lying on acouch or floor for watching television, or when disposed in asemi-reclining position, such as for reading in bed or the like.

In the past, many devices have been provided for supporting thelbody inthe above positions, but such devices have primarily served only asprops without any concern for the proper positioning and/or orientationof the respective parts of the body. In addition, such devices have beenuseful lonly to the extent that they can support the body in a singleposition or result in improper orientation of the parts of the body whendisposed in one or more different positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates providing ascientifically structured support device for supporting the head, neckand back of the human body which may be disposed in either a recliningor semi-reclining position and cornprises a unitary body portion havinga plurality of support surfaces and a sinuously curved upper surfaceadapted to engage and support the body of an occupant.

The upper surface extends between and is angularly disposed with respectto the support surfaces and includes pairs of convex and concaveportions disposed in alternately merging relationship lengthwisethereof. In the form shown, the support surfaces are generally flat, andpreferably disposed in generally perpendicular relation to one another,and which define with the upper surface a generally wedge-shapedconfiguration for the body. The upper surface is disposed at a greaterangle with respect to one support surface than another of the supportsurfaces for supporting the body of the occupant in a reclining orsemi-reclining position, as desired. In addition, the upper surfaceincludes an upper and lower convex portion and ice upper and lowerconcave portions when being supported on one of said support surfaces.One of the support surfaces has a greater transverse length than theother of the support surfaces with the upper convex portion disposedadjacent the support surface having a lesser transverse length and thelower concave portion being disposed adjacent the support surface havingthe greater transverse length. The lower concave portion includes agenerally flat surface portion which terminates in the longer adjacentsupport surface. The upper surface merges with the back surface having alesser transverse length adjacent the upper concave portion and definesan angle therebetween which is greater than the included angle definedby the generally flat surface portion of the lower concave portion andthe adjacent support surface.

By the foregoing arrangement, there is provided a therapeutic supportdevice :which when in use may be supported on a plurality of supportsurfaces, and which will position the occupants body in a generallyreclining position when supported on one support surface and positionthe occupants body in a generally semi-reclining position when supportedby the other support surface. In addition, the device is arranged toposition the respective portions, that is head, neck and back, in properorientation with respect to one another whether the body is positionedin either the reclining or semi-reclining position. Furthermore, thecontour of the device is arranged so that when the body is in the aboverespective positions, the occupant may read, study or watch TV withoutneck and/or eye strain. Still further, the contour of the device: iswell suited for use when lying on ones side and permits comfort andtherapeutic positioning heretofore unavailable from previously knowndevices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a generally perspectiveview, partially cut away, of the novel therapeutic support device of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back elevation view of the device of the present inventionwhen viewed from the left-hand side of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the support device of the presentinvention when viewed from the right-hand side of FIG. .2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings, the therapeutic support device of the present invention isillustrated generally at 2 and embodies a portable article adapted to bepositioned on a floor, sofa, bed or the like. The device 2 is adapted tosupport a portion of the human body, including the headand neck, in apredetermined position, whereby maximum comfort is achieved when thebody is in a reclining or semi-reclining position.

The article comprises a unitary, one-piece generally wedge-shaped body 4being defined, when viewed in side elevation as shown in FIG. 2, by thegenerally flat support surfaces 6 and 8, respectively, and upper surface20, which intersects the bottom 6 and back 8 surfaces, to form upper andfront edges 14 and 16, respectively. Preferably, the body 4 is generallyrectangular in configuration when viewed in back (FIG. 3) and front(FIG. 4) elevation, being defined by generally parallel opposite sidesurfaces 10 and 12, which extend generally perpendicularly with respectto the bottom surface 6 and upper edge 14. Preferably, the upper edge 14extends generally parallel with respect to the bottom surface 6 and thefront edge 16.

In the preferred embodiment, the interior of the body comprises aresilient cushion member 11 which is pref-.

erably made of a polymeric foam, such as urethane foam, having a densityof pounds p.s.i., but may be made of any suitable resilient material orcombination of materials which will provide a relatively firm yetresilient cushioned support. The cushion member is preferably covered onall surfaces by a fabric cover member 17 or other suitable material,such as polyvinyl chloride. The cover member 30 may be made in the formof a bag or envelope having an open end (not shown) into which thecushion member 11 may be inserted, whereupon, the open end of the covermember 30 may be sealed closed in any suitable manner.

In the form shown, the bottom surface 6 and back surface 8 are generallyfiat and disposed in generally perpendicular relation to one anotherenabling the body to be supported on either the back or bottom surface,as desired. Preferably, the upper surface 20 is disposed in generallyangular relationship with respect to the back and bottom surfaces sothat an imaginary plane defined by the edges 14 and 16 will define anangle, such as a, with the back surface 8 which is greater than anangle, such as g, defined by such imaginary plane with the bottomsurface 6, resulting in one support surface, such as 6, having a greatertransverse length than the other. By this arrangement, the body of theuser can be positioned in a more upward position when the pillow isresting on the back surface 8 than when the pillow is resting on thebottom surface 6.

The sinuously curved upper surface 20 of the cushion member 11 includesa plurality of alternately disposed convex 15, 17 and concave 19, 21portions which merge smoothly with one another to form a continuoussurface, and which are angularly disposed with respect to one anotherbeing adapted to position certain portions of the users head, neck andback in predetermined relation with respect to one another when thesupport is resting either on the bottom surface 6 or the back surface 8.As shown the upper surface 20 extends from the upper edge 14 generallyforwardly, and slightly downwardly at an angle b which is greater thanthe angle a defining the upper convex portion 15. The surface 20 thencurves generally downwardly and forwardly defining an angle c with theback surface 8 which is less than the angle a so that the convex portion15 is positioned outwardly of the imaginary plane C. The front surfacethen curves gradually generally forwardly and upwardly defining an angled with the back surface 8 which is greater than the angle a forming theupper concave portion 19, and then curves gradually generally downwardlyto define an angle e with the back surface 8 which is less than theangle a forming the lower convex portion 17. Preferably, the outermostportion of the convex portion 17 is generally tangent to the imaginaryplane C. The upper surface 20 then curves still generally forwardly anddownwardly and then may extend generally asymptotically or linearlyforwardly and downwardly with respect to the bottom surface 6 forming agenerally fiat surface portion 23. The fiat surface 23 terminates in thelinear front edge 16 which is common to the bottom surface 6. As can beseen, by this arrangement, only the convex portion 15 is positionedoutwardly of the plane C while the portions 19 and 21 are positionedtangent to or inwardly of the plane C.

To achieve such, the angle 12 is greater than the angle d, and the angled is greater than angle 1 while the angle 0 is greater than the angle e,and both angles 0 and e are less than angles b, d and f.

In addition, the transverse distance between the outermost point 25 ofthe upper convex portion 15 and the surface 6 is greater than thetransverse distance between the innermost point 27 of the upper concaveportion 19 and the'surface 6, and the transverse distance between theinnermost point 27 and the surface 6 is greater than the transversedistance between the outermost point 29 of thelower convex portion 17and-the surface 6 while the transverse distance between the outermostpoint 29 and the surface 6 is greater than the transverse distancebetween the innermost point 30 of the lower concave portion 21. Thetransverse distance between the above points 25, 27, 29 and 30 and thesurface 8 is opposite to that mentioned above with the point 30beingdisposed the greatest distance away from and the point 25 being disposedthe closest to the surface 8.

By way of example, the following table A gives typical dimensionscorresponding to' the representative letters on the drawings for onesizeof support which would be satisfactory for most applications: 1

Table A Dimension location: i Inches When the device 2 is resting on thebottom surface 6, the concave portions 19 and 21 are adapted to receivethe posterior occupit and posterior mid-dorsum of the user, whereas,when the device is resting on the back surface 8, the concave portions19 and 21 are adapted to receive and properly position the posteriormid-sacrum and postterior mid-dorsum, respectively.

In addition, the convex portion 17 is adapted to properly orient theposterior mid-cervical region with respect to the previously mentionedportions of the occupants body when disposed in a reclining position,such as when the device is resting on the bottom surface 6, or in asemi-reclining position, such as when the device is resting on the backsurface 8.

I claim:

1. A therapeutic support device adapted for supportment of at least aportion of the human spinal column in selected reclining andsemi-reclining positions comprising a unitary, resilient body memberincluding:

a first support surface,

a second support surface disposed in linearly intersecting angularrelationship to said first support surface, and

a sinuously curved upper surface extending between and angularlydisposed with respect to said support surfaces,

said upper surface including an upper convex portion, an upper concaveportion, a lower convex portion, and a lower concave portion when saiddevice is supported on said second support surface,

said lower concave portion terminating in merging relation with saidsecond support surface to form a lower marginal edge,

said upper convex portion terminating in merging relation with saidfirst support surface to form an upper marginal edge,

said upper and lower marginal edges being disposed in generally parallelrelation to each other and defining therebetween an imaginary plane,

said upper convex portion being disposed outwardly of said imaginaryplane in a direction away from said support surfaces,

said upper and lower concave portions being disposed inwardly of saidimaginary plane in a direction toward said support surfaces, and I saidlower convex portion being substantially free of disposition outsidesaid imaginary plane in a direction away from said support surfaces, soas to adapt said upper and lower concave portions for receipt of theposterior occupit and posterior mid-dorsum, respectively, of a humanspinal column when said device is resting on said second support surfaceand to further adapt said upper and lower concave portions for receiptof the posterior mid-sacrum and posterior mid-dorsum, respectively, of ahuman spinal column when said device is resting on said first supportsurface,

said lower convex portion being adapted to properly orient the posteriormid-cervical region of said users spinal column.

2. A therapeutic support device made in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said second support surface is disposed in generally perpendicularrelationship to said first support surface,

said first support surface having a lesser transverse length than saidsecond support surface,

said imaginary plane defining with said first support surface anincluded angle which is greater than an included angle defined by saidplane and said second support surface.

3. A therapeutic support device in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidlower concave portion extends generally asymptotically toward saidsecond support surface.

4. A therapeutic support device in accordance with claim 2, wherein thetransverse distance between said second support surface and theoutermost point of the upper convex portion with respect to saidimaginary plane is greater than the transverse distance between saidsecond support surface and the innermost point of the upper concaveportion with respect to said imaginary plane,

which is greater than the transverse distance between said secondsupport surface and the outermost point of the lower convex portion withrespect to said imaginary plane, which is greater than the transversedistance between said second support surface and the innermost point ofthe lower concave portion with respect to said imaginary plane.

5. A therapeutic support device in accordance with claim 2, wherein thearansverse distance between said first support surface and the outermostpoint of the upper convex portion with respect to said imaginary planeis less than the transverse distance between said first support surfaceand the innermost point of the upper concave portion with respect tosaid imaginary plane, which is less than the transverse distance betweensaid first support surface and the outermost point of the lower convexportion with respect to said imaginary plane, which is less than thetransverse distance between said first support surface and the innermostpoint of the lower concave portion with respect to said imaginary plane.

6. A therapeutic support device in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidlower convex and lower concave portions are of greater length than saidupper convex and upper concave portions.

7. A therapeutic support device made in accordance with claim 2, whereinthe outermost point of the upper convex portion is disposed at adistance from said first support surface which is equal to approximatelyless than one-half of the transverse length of the second supportsurface and at a distance from said second support surface which isapproximately equal to the transverse length of the first supportsurface.

8. A therapeutic support device made in accordance with claim 2, whereinthe innermost point of the upper concave portion is disposed at adistance from said first support surface which is equal to approximatelyless than one-half of the transverse length of the second supportsurface and at a distance from said second support surface which isapproximately less than the transverse length of the first supportsurface.

9. A therapeutic support device made in accordance with claim 2, whereinthe outermost point of the lower convex portion is disposed at adistance from said first support surface which is equal to approximatelyone-half of the transverse length of the second support surface and at adistance from said second support surface which is approximately lessthan the transverse length of the first support surface.

10. A therapeutic support device made in accordance with claim 2,wherein the outermost portion of the lower concave portion is disposedat a distance from said first support surface which is equal toapproximately greater than one-half of the transverse length of thesecond support surface and at a distance from said second supportsurface which is approximately less than the transverse length of thefirst support surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,281,629 5/1942 Snow 297-458X2,434,007 1/1948 ODea 5-338X 3,003,815 10/1961 Zinn 297--118 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,120,734 4/1956 France 5338 KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

